gormless

== English == === Alternative forms === gaumless, gawmless === Etymology === From dialectal English gaum (“heed, attention”) +‎ -less (“without”), from Old Norse gaum, from Proto-Germanic *gaumaz, *gaumō (“heed, attention”). The ‘r’ found in this spelling is a vowel-lengthening device common in non-rhotic dialects of English. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɡɔːmləs/ Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)mləs === Adjective === gormless (comparative more gormless, superlative most gormless) (chiefly UK, Commonwealth, Ireland, of a person) Lacking intelligence, sense or understanding; foolish. ==== Synonyms ==== (lacking intelligence): dull, slow, stupid; ignorant, inexperienced, naive ==== Derived terms ==== gormlessly, gormlessness ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== gorm, gormy